Liverpool ready £34m January swoop for Barcelona outcast Alejandro Balde

Liverpool are considering a January move to sign Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde for around £34m, according to Spanish outlet Sport. The 22-year-old has not played a single minute in La Liga or the Champions League this season and has become third choice at the Catalan club. Manager Andoni Iraola would consider the deal.

  • Deal: Liverpool weighing up a January move for Alejandro Balde
  • Fee: Around £34 million
  • Current club: Barcelona, where he is third-choice left-back
  • Player's season: No minutes in La Liga or Champions League in 2026/27
  • Liverpool's current left-backs: Milos Kerkez (regular starter) and Kostas Tsimikas
  • Manager's stance: Andoni Iraola would consider the opportunity

Deal details

Sport reports that Balde could be available for around £34 million this winter. He has become Barcelona's third-choice left-back behind Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo this term. Balde chose to stay at Barcelona despite a lack of assurances over playing time under manager Hansi Flick, but that decision has not proved worthwhile.

The player is right-footed and developed in the La Masia academy as a right-back, though Flick has used Espart on the opposite flank. Liverpool have a good relationship with Barcelona after recently signing Ronald Araujo on an initial loan deal. Balde could be tempted to reunite with Araujo, having seen the Uruguayan become a regular at right-back after losing his starting spot at Barcelona.

Any move would be a permanent exit for Balde, who was on the radar of Inter Milan and Manchester United over the summer. The £34m fee would represent a bargain for Liverpool given his strong distribution and link-up play in the final third.

Why Iraola wants Balde and what it means for Kerkez

Liverpool's left-back department is functional rather than fearsome. Milos Kerkez has been the regular choice under Andoni Iraola, while Kostas Tsimikas has struggled to provide sufficient competition. Iraola may want an upgrade at the turn of the year, and Alejandro Balde fits the profile of a modern attacking full-back.

Balde's standout quality — distribution and link-up play in the final third — is exactly what Iraola demands from his full-backs. At £34m, the risk is manageable for a 22-year-old with La Masia pedigree. The concern is fitness and rhythm: he has not played a single minute this season, so any January move would require a patient integration.

Kerkez would not simply hand over the shirt. He has been the regular choice, and Iraola values consistency. But Balde, if fit, has every chance to displace Kerkez and become the outright left-back. The competition would sharpen both players, and Tsimikas would likely fall further down the pecking order.

Talking points

  • Is £34m for a player with zero minutes this season a bargain or a risk? His distribution is elite, but match sharpness is a genuine unknown.
  • Would Balde actually displace Milos Kerkez? Kerkez has been the regular choice and Iraola may not want to disrupt a settled defence mid-season.
  • Barcelona's loss could be Liverpool's gain. Balde was a standout not long ago, and the emergence of Xavi Espart has forced him out.
  • The Araujo loan already gives Liverpool a direct line to Barcelona. Does that relationship make this deal more likely to happen quickly?

What happens next

Liverpool face a decision in the January transfer window. Balde's Camp Nou situation is unlikely to change while Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo are ahead of him. The player must decide whether to push for a permanent exit, and Liverpool must decide whether to meet the £34m valuation or look elsewhere. Iraola's approval is reportedly there; the next step is a formal approach.

Frequently asked questions

Is Liverpool signing Alejandro Balde in January?

Liverpool are weighing up a January move to sign Balde, according to Sport. No formal agreement has been reached, but Andoni Iraola would consider the opportunity.

How much would Alejandro Balde cost Liverpool?

Balde could be available for around £34 million this winter, per Sport. That fee is considered a bargain given his distribution and link-up play.

Why is Alejandro Balde not playing for Barcelona?

Balde has not played a single minute in La Liga or the Champions League this season. He is third-choice left-back behind Xavi Espart and Joao Cancelo.

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